Miss Guilia Malerbi, Itlay, 2014-2015
2014 GRSP Columbus Conclave Cabaret
Correspondence May 10, 2019
So here’s what happened with me since I left Georgia in June 2015! First, it is important to highlight that my GRSP year helped me to grow incredibly on a personal point of view, in terms of determination and being committed. In fact, when I came back home to Pisa, Italy, I managed to graduate ahead of time, completing my Bachelors Degree in Animal Sciences in only 6 months.
I then decided to take some time off to volunteer across Europe, to explore new cultures and probably discover myself more. After few months of travelling I decided to found my own no-profit association, the “Batpackers Association”, with the aim of encouraging youngsters to travel and embrace new adventures. My Association has also been approved by the European Union, from which we receive financial support. That year I travelled to 13 different countries, took part in a large variety of volunteering projects and had the chance to spread the Rotary values wherever I went.
In 2017 I came back to the USA for the International Rotary Conference and the GRSP Alumni reunion, which was an amazing event I’ll never forget! Wanting to keep up my travelling rhythm, after leaving Atlanta I took a flight to Montana and started crossing all the states down to Arizona, visiting the natural parks along the way (from Glacier park to the Grand Canyon). One of the highlights of this adventure, was that I ended up being hosted by the local families of the Rotary clubs of the States I was crossing - Rotarians’ hospitality will never stop to amaze me!
When I came back home, I felt ready to pursue my animals studies further, therefore I applied to a Master in Glasgow, Scotland, and I won a scholarship which allowed me to study and live there for the following year. I completed my Masters Degree in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law with Merit this past November 2018.
Unfortunately, negative events happen in life as well: I was involved in an accident and I had to go through knee surgery few days after getting my Degree. Nevertheless, I have always been a positive person and I have always believed that life has a lot of wonderful things planned for the future! In fact, I have recently been offered a job that will take me to Sardina, Italy, to work in a Natural Reserve. As I’m recovering well, I’m getting ready to start this new adventure with all the passion, positivity and eagerness to learn that accompanied me throughout these past years since I left Georgia.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every Rotarian that puts their time and effort towards the GRSP program. I was inspired and motivated by all the people I had the chance to meet during my permanence in Georgia and I can assure you I would not have become the person I am today without this incredible experience.
So here’s what happened with me since I left Georgia in June 2015! First, it is important to highlight that my GRSP year helped me to grow incredibly on a personal point of view, in terms of determination and being committed. In fact, when I came back home to Pisa, Italy, I managed to graduate ahead of time, completing my Bachelors Degree in Animal Sciences in only 6 months.
I then decided to take some time off to volunteer across Europe, to explore new cultures and probably discover myself more. After few months of travelling I decided to found my own no-profit association, the “Batpackers Association”, with the aim of encouraging youngsters to travel and embrace new adventures. My Association has also been approved by the European Union, from which we receive financial support. That year I travelled to 13 different countries, took part in a large variety of volunteering projects and had the chance to spread the Rotary values wherever I went.
In 2017 I came back to the USA for the International Rotary Conference and the GRSP Alumni reunion, which was an amazing event I’ll never forget! Wanting to keep up my travelling rhythm, after leaving Atlanta I took a flight to Montana and started crossing all the states down to Arizona, visiting the natural parks along the way (from Glacier park to the Grand Canyon). One of the highlights of this adventure, was that I ended up being hosted by the local families of the Rotary clubs of the States I was crossing - Rotarians’ hospitality will never stop to amaze me!
When I came back home, I felt ready to pursue my animals studies further, therefore I applied to a Master in Glasgow, Scotland, and I won a scholarship which allowed me to study and live there for the following year. I completed my Masters Degree in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law with Merit this past November 2018.
Unfortunately, negative events happen in life as well: I was involved in an accident and I had to go through knee surgery few days after getting my Degree. Nevertheless, I have always been a positive person and I have always believed that life has a lot of wonderful things planned for the future! In fact, I have recently been offered a job that will take me to Sardina, Italy, to work in a Natural Reserve. As I’m recovering well, I’m getting ready to start this new adventure with all the passion, positivity and eagerness to learn that accompanied me throughout these past years since I left Georgia.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every Rotarian that puts their time and effort towards the GRSP program. I was inspired and motivated by all the people I had the chance to meet during my permanence in Georgia and I can assure you I would not have become the person I am today without this incredible experience.
So here’s what happened with me since I left Georgia in June 2015! First, it is important to highlight that my GRSP year helped me to grow incredibly on a personal point of view, in terms of determination and being committed. In fact, when I came back home to Pisa, Italy, I managed to graduate ahead of time, completing my Bachelors Degree in Animal Sciences in only 6 months.
I then decided to take some time off to volunteer across Europe, to explore new cultures and probably discover myself more. After few months of travelling I decided to found my own no-profit association, the “Batpackers Association”, with the aim of encouraging youngsters to travel and embrace new adventures. My Association has also been approved by the European Union, from which we receive financial support. That year I travelled to 13 different countries, took part in a large variety of volunteering projects and had the chance to spread the Rotary values wherever I went.
In 2017 I came back to the USA for the International Rotary Conference and the GRSP Alumni reunion, which was an amazing event I’ll never forget! Wanting to keep up my travelling rhythm, after leaving Atlanta I took a flight to Montana and started crossing all the states down to Arizona, visiting the natural parks along the way (from Glacier park to the Grand Canyon). One of the highlights of this adventure, was that I ended up being hosted by the local families of the Rotary clubs of the States I was crossing - Rotarians’ hospitality will never stop to amaze me!
When I came back home, I felt ready to pursue my animals studies further, therefore I applied to a Master in Glasgow, Scotland, and I won a scholarship which allowed me to study and live there for the following year. I completed my Masters Degree in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law with Merit this past November 2018.
Unfortunately, negative events happen in life as well: I was involved in an accident and I had to go through knee surgery few days after getting my Degree. Nevertheless, I have always been a positive person and I have always believed that life has a lot of wonderful things planned for the future! In fact, I have recently been offered a job that will take me to Sardina, Italy, to work in a Natural Reserve. As I’m recovering well, I’m getting ready to start this new adventure with all the passion, positivity and eagerness to learn that accompanied me throughout these past years since I left Georgia.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every Rotarian that puts their time and effort towards the GRSP program. I was inspired and motivated by all the people I had the chance to meet during my permanence in Georgia and I can assure you I would not have become the person I am today without this incredible experience.
Letter to club July 24, 2015
Hello Club! I hope things are going great for everyone of you and that the weather is not too humid! Would you have ever thought that one day an Italian girl would be sitting right next to the tower of Pisa writing a letter for y’all? How cool is that ? I wanna give you some quick updates about how things are going on here for me, in sunny Italy! I’m finally back on track pursuing my Veterinary Medicine studies in Pisa and I'm eager to get my degree next year. I’ve completed all the necessary documents to start a Rotract club at my University. We’re just waiting for Italian bureaucracy (as you might have heard it’s kind of slow..) but I’m determined to start one. I’m in touch with Rotarians I met all over the US. If you recall, I in fact travelled around Texas for two weeks before leaving ( I master the pronunciation of “ Howdy y’all” now!). There, I met a lot of Rotarians that welcomed me in their homes. My mom was astonished by how nice people from the South are Last but not least, I’ve been in touch with a Canadian University taking about the possibility of maybe doing a Master there in the future. I know what’s going on in your minds now: “No! Giulia! How could you do this to us?? Canada? Are you out of your mind ??” Well folks, what can I say in my defense.. They have bigger IHOPS restaurants and you know that’s my biggest weakness! Anyways, do not panic! Georgia will ALWAYS be first place in my heart. There are so many things I would love to share with you in person, but I won’t be back for a while, so I thought I would simply write you these thoughts as I think about my GRSP year every single day! Getting back to normality was really hard for me. I’ve been carefully well taken care of by Rotarians for a whole year and now I feel the struggle of getting back to real life! You might think this is a sad feeling, but it actually only means that this past year was the best experience in my life. It helped me grow personally and professionally. I collected incredible memories, but most important of all, I found a second, amazing, caring family in Rotary, in Georgia. And it all happened thanks to you. Even if you were not one of my host families or I didn’t get the chance to talk to you and get to know you on a deeper level, I need you to know that you’ve played a fundamental role in my year, therefore in my life. And I’m forever going to be grateful for that. Thank you for this opportunity, I know you’re getting ready to welcome a new GRSP and I’m sure her journey it’s going to be as successful and as enriching as it was for me! Instead of sending you just a big hug - like you do in the US- , I’ll send each one of you two kisses on the cheeks: because that’s how we do it in Italy! See y'all soon! Lots of Love, Giulia